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Categories: American (New), Bars [Edit]
Neighborhood: BucktownMon-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri. 5:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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Brunch. A fantastic combination of words for a fantastic combination of food. And The Bristol doesn't disappoint. The plethora of beverages that you can partake of here at The Bristol is just one of the reasons I loved it.
Bristol Bellini, Bristol Bloody Mary--spicy and not overpowered, Intelligentsia coffee, a "Toddler size" Miller lite (part of the Bristol Bloody Breakfast) is the way to go.
You can't come to the Bristol for brunch and not have bacon. (Damn mad that Baconfest was sold out this year when I tried to go.) I am a huge believer that everything is better with Bacon. EVERYTHING.
And the Bristol seems to think alike.
Malted waffles were amazing the maple anglaise was good and not too sweet and the cashews a nice touch. Also recommend the Fried Egg Sandwich.
Service was great, the servers each seem to have their own personalities that shine through. I recommend if you're going on a Sunday to get there early for a good seat.
Good food, but not as great as described by others. Yeah, it's full of porky goodness, and the menu is inventive, using lots of local products.
But I've got to say, I was a bit let down by the service and the space itself. I didn't get the communal vibe they were trying to achieve with the big family style tables. Instead I felt cramped and on top of the diners next to us. (Don't get me wrong, I love family style places, but this one didn't sit well with me).
Regardless of my measly 3 star review, give this place a try if you haven't been there before. As others have noted, the monkey bread, apple/manchego salad, and chicken are excellent.
Monkey bread = amazing; duck fat fries = amazing; nutter butter and sabayon dessert = amazing; quail = amazing; darn good burger (tried my companion's); but bone marrow = THE. BOMB. seriously. My companion wasn't as impressed, perhaps, but man. Ultimate comfort food for me, evidently.
The waiter gave excellent recommendations, and we were glad we took each one: so, fantastic service. Great chalkboard thing going on, great menu with some humor attached ("the cook county department of health would like to inform you that consuming raw or uncooked foods may, in fact, end your life"), happy that they support (and inform us that they support) local farms, etc. Well-done overall, really.
Overall, really freaking fantastic experience. Spendy, but goddamn. Worth it. I left very impressed.
OH MY GOD.I took my boyfriend here for his birthday as a surprise this recent monday 10/19..we were both The bristol virgins.I am STILL fascinated by how delicious the food was here. I love how you'd THINK the portions are small but in that one plate theres so much flavor its amazing how you can taste each of it separately but blended together seeping through your tastebuds...my mouth is watering just reliving the moment...
What we had:
The raviolo: I would describe it as a giant ravioli...theres a sunny egg cooked in it that you puncture and the yolk will run thru the raviolo onto your plate, you let it sit for 3 seconds and cut thru the delicious raviolo that was filled with cheese and herbs (Sorry i dont remember exactly)..
there was also a sweet element added to it..but it tasted delicious together...
Then....the bone marrow...MY Favorite!..
it came with crostinis or baguettes wtvu call it..with a marmalade and shallots i believe...but u put the bone marrow on the buttered crostini, with the marmalade..and its a party in your mouth...WOWWW..it was AMAZING.
Then...the quail
The quail was crispy, perfect texture served with maple sauce on a corn cake..it was delicious too..
oh.so those were my entrees..for appetizers..i LOVED the monkey bread with pesto...and the warm olives...but the monkey bread was my favorite..it was so soft and warm.hm..
since the appetizers, my cocktails (the moscow mule n wtv my bf had) were delightfully delicious, we wanted to see if the desserts there would be the same...
so i had the chocolate mousse (it had a fancy name i dont remember) that came with this really good homemade peanut butter biscotti and also the pear tart...it was okay.i gave the desserts a 3star...im a dessert person. but the entrees and appetizers..AMAZING.
as for the service, my server was overly ansy...like i wanted to tazer him to chill out ahaha...but i guess it was a busy night so thats okay...the staff was extra friendly too...they gave me a call when a table opened so that was nice (i didnt have to wait..i could browse around bucktown) . Atmosphere was great...good vibes.
Conclusion is, i dont really write long reviews..so this is a good sign..a really good sign...GO TRY IT =)
I love this place. The staff is incredibly friendly and receptive, the food is well thought out and deliberate, and... the beer selection.
You can get good food in Chicago, for sure, but Bristol is a package deal. It's always packed, and easy to see why. Defiantly a great place for a group, or even to bring a date. I normally don't like sitting at a bar to eat, but it's nice to meet other people, and to chat with the staff as well.
Indelibly recommended.
Went there for brunch, and it was absolutely DELICIOUS. Very interesting and thoughtful… Read more »
The Bristol is OK. Its better than OK. But something left me from saying wow. Can't put my finger on it though since it seems to be firing on all cylinders.
Lets start with waiting for a table. Plenty of room upstairs to do so, have a drink, and have some appetizers. I was curious about the scotch olives as I suspected they were something similar to olives all'Ascolana, but with a pork sausage stuffing instead of chicken livers. These were pretty good, but did not blow me away. On to the duck fat fries. These were really good. On par with those found elsewhere around town. I did not care for the house-made ketchup though. Something was off about it. But I'm not big on ketchup in the first place so no big loss.
The cocktails, as mentioned by others on here looked inventive. I had wine however so can not comment further. Moved downstairs shortly thereafter for the main event. Apple salad - good. I'd get it again. Beef tongue crostini - very very good. Three sizable pieces with very rich flavor. Not quite as rich as bone marrow, but one could get another small plate and make this the centerpiece. My neighbors seemed a bit put off by the choice though. Their loss.
Then the pompano for two. This was one big honkin' fish. Served whole, smiling up at me ready to get in my belly. Damn. This was exceptional. Simple preparation accentuated how tender and flavorful it was. Did I mention this was one large fish? Might have been enough to feed three people. Maybe if I hadn't had all of that beef tongue I could have put it away.
The atmosphere was inviting, upscale yet casual. And all of the staff were very friendly and accommodating. We were told to order everything up front, which wasn't a problem but would discourage me for coming back to have one of those long marathon dinners, unlike say Avec which I find very conducive for that. So why only three stars? I'm not sure. I suppose something intangible just didn't move me since everything seemed to be in order and done well. Maybe I was expecting a little more charcuterie. Or maybe a few more choices since they did seem to run out of a number of items. Or larger beer and wine selection. Can't put my finger on it. Recommended, but it didn't leave me as excited to return as Avec or the Publican.
Excellent menu, great for sharing with friends, delicious cocktails!
Visited The Bristol on a recent trip to Chicago. I read a little on this place a little before we came here, by recommendation of a friend, and was already on a mission to try their Honey Mead... but that would have to wait until the end of the meal... more on that in a sec. When we walked in, I knew this place was going to be special... the long family-style wood tables and chalkboards on the walls promoting their partnerships with local farmers set the perfect setting for a cozy dinner with our good friends.
We started with cocktails, which were delicious. I had some concoction of absinthe and whiskey, which was suprisingly good.
The dinner menu was eclectic, and there seemed to be something for everyone. The portions are smaller, so we opted to try a bunch of different things and just share everything. The monkey bread with the dill butter was amazing. We also tried the Pig's Head, the Duck Confit, Bolognese, and half chicken... all of which were delicious.
Finally came the dessert, which was a delicious chocolate mousse type thing with homemade nutter butters... it went perfectly with my honey mead, which was sweet and satisfying - everything i hoped for and more.
Overall, a great dinner on a Sunday night with friends.
Ahhhh-mazzzz-ing!
FANTASTIC!
LOVED IT!
I will be back!
These guys are doin it right, from the decor to the staff to the food- they hit the nail on the head, for sure!
I came by on Tuesday evening for a GNO (Girls Night Out). Boy oh boy am I glad we decided to come here!
The decor is very minimalist, in my opinion. And I like that. It looked clean and chic. The space isn't huge. There are two large, long tables running down the middle of the space for larger groups. There are smaller tables along the perimeter and of couse you can also sit at the bar.
First thing you need to know is this is very much small plates. So if you want a GIANT entree just for yourself, you might be disapointed. But to be honest, how one could be disapointed here is beyond me.
Being small plates it's great for someone like me who is always indecisive about what to order. Do I want the crab legs or the pasta? Not an issue here. Come for a hot date or with a group. Either way you won't be disapointed.
I can't even recall everything we had because we ordered SO much food- well that and we went through 2 bottles of wine.
We started with a cheese board with the most FANTASTIC gorgonzola cheese on the planet. (Gorgonzola picante, Lombardy, Italy). The cheese tasted more like a really really creamy blue cheese. It was simply decadant! I coulda and woulda just licked it right off an ice cream cone if it were socially acceptable! That cheese (served with some sort of pear and mustard seed chutney) made me smarter. I know it did. I'll let that sink in for a moment...
We also ordered the duck fat fries. Best damn fries ever. Why haven't more restaurants started to serve these things? OH MY GOd were they good. And the garlic aioli they were served with was so good I was licking it off my fingers with gusto. (It must be pleasant sitting across from me during feeding time, er, dinner time).
We also got a pumpkin seed salad which was delish and oh so seasonal! Not to mention a pretty array of autumn colors! Then there were the 2 orders of this Chitarra pasta (due to it's size and shape it's also called guitar string pasta, according to our awesome waiter). The noodles almost tasted like they had been prepared in chicken broth. It was delish (thus the 2nd order).
We also got the halibut which was fantastic! It was just the right amount of crisp on the outside and succulant meat on the inside. Then we ordered the flatbread with bacon and sweet onion. WOW. That was simply sinful! I think it lasted on our table for a max of 2 minutes. We inhaled our food.
It didn't hurt that our waiter, Jeff, was completly knowledgable about the menu. He was honest and recommended dishes he thought we might like based on how hungry we were and which dishes we'd had and enjoyed (which really was everything).
I predict good things for this restaurant. The menu is ever changing (like... daily, weekly changes). They change depending on season, and also depending on what they are seeing at local farmers markets and other local establishments. Be sure to keep your eyes on the chalkboard for all the delectable specials.
If you haven't been yet, you'd better get in soon before everyone in the world reads my review and the line stretches out the door. Trust me, I wouldn't lie about food. I might tell you that dress doesn't make you look fat (even when it does), but I wouldn't lie about food!
How this place only has 4 stars, I do not understand. I've been twice. Once for the BF's birthday, and another just for fun. Believe me when I say, this does not have to be a celebration spot.
The only downside, no reservations. The upside, an awesome lounge upstairs to catch a drink and a small bite before dinner.
I work in the restaurant industry, so I know better than to go somewhere that doesn't take reservations on a weekend, so I have only had to wait no more than a hour, or shall I say two drinks.
The chalkboard menu is amazing and smart. I dig a one page menu. Keeping it simple.
I read an article recently that they added some sound deafening wall treatments, but I have always said, if you are going with good company, you shouldn't worry about the people next to you. But good for The Bristol to answering their guests complaints.
The cocktails are both inventive and tasty. The wine list looks great, but I've never made it that far.
The menu changes so often that the only sad part would be the next time you come back, the dish you loved so much last time probably won't be there again. On my first visit there was a table of 4 next to us that ordered the entire menu, smart thinking. It's small enough to do so, but big enough for a group to try everything.
Go with a group or your favorite counterpart and take it all in, you won't be disappointed.
It's hard to add to the bazillion good things that have already been said about this place. It was excellent. I was floored by how friendly the staff were and that definitely added to our wonderful experience.
TRY A MOSCOW MULE!! They said that the specialty drinks take longer to prepare but I swear it was done before I could bat an eye. Served in a copper mug and so perfect with vodka and ginger beer and lime. I could have had several.
We loved everything we tried, the monkey bread with dill dip, the olive plate. Yum. We ordered burgers and they were outstanding. Cooked to perfection! Duck fat fries....so good. I can't wait to come back and try a bunch of other things. This restaurant does everything right. I wasn't sure it would live up to all the hype but it did.... and then some.
monkey balls, deep fried brussel sprouts and pappardell with braised port, turnip and prune...oh and chocolate sabayon with homemade nutter butters!!
ever thing was amazing and locally grown!
beautiful and simple restaurant that lets the food speak for itself...loved it!
Tried the Bristol again for brunch. As a lover of the Bloody Mary, had to try the infamous $17 Bloody. Wife got it too and 2nd ordered only cost $6. It was good and came with a giant skewer of sausage, cheese, pickles, peppers, etc. I'd ask for no anchovies next time.
On to the entrees. We both ordered the Chilaquiles with braised pork. It was one of the best I've ever had. It was also the smallest Chilaquiles I've ever had. The serving dish was like an appetizer bowl and not piled high. So I had to savor every bite and found myself leaving incredibly hungry. Chilaquiles are supposed to be huge! All in all, a $45 brunch(w/o tip) and I left hungry. So as much as I liked the food, too small. Can't wait to not go back unless someone else is buying.
Popped in on Saturday at 6:30 and was lucky enough to get a bar spot to avoid the dreaded communal… Read more »
yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
friendly service.
delicious meal.
simple/modern decor.
great lighting.
local food.
I had a delicious experience from start to finish during my visit to the Bristol. Here's what went down the ole shoot at our table:
*dark and stormy (yummy bits of ginger)
*monkey bread (with dill butter)
*half chicken (this was unexpectedly my favorite dish)
*apple+manchego salad
*fluke with avocado crema (very, very good)
*la fin du monde
*grand marnier
and we also got that pb+j dessert which I did not like at all. (everything else was so delicious that i give them a free pass on that). My gf liked it.
Believe the Hype.
I went to Bristol by myself as my a la card was expiring. I was greeted right away and sat at the bar by choice. I was a bit scared by the menu. Not so much because I am afraid to try new things, but wasn't really in the mood for anything in particular.
I had the same issue with the beer list... It's huge. Like 6 beers on tap and 70+ bottled.
So, I opted for a Moscow Mule. My first. As expertly prepared as any cocktail I've ever had (including at violet hour). And strong and Spicy. The housemade ginger syrup was aptly the selling point.
I decided to go for some of the Yelp recommendations, and being teh tarte flambe fan I am, I went down for the bacon flatbread. there's not much "bread" to this flatbread. It's like a divine cracker topped with carmelized onions and bacon chunks. Outstanding. The duck fat fries were as good as they were purported to be. At that point I decided to cut my losses... almost. I went down for the sabayon with nutter butters. Man am I glad I did.
During the dessert one of the owners (Philip, I think) came over and introduced himself and asked about my dinner. I wish I'd thought then to suggest that they have a "Chef's sampler" or "Chef's suggestion" plate. The reason is that they had 4 kinds of heart on the menu that night. I would have tried them all, but I was not brave enough to order an entire beef heart. It'd be great if they also had an "Offal Experience" plate so you could try the marrow and the oxtail and the like.
I'll be going back, emboldened.
So I'm at The Bristol chomping on bone marrow and toast points (yes, I said toast points), and I realize I have never gotten this full off this few bites of food. "What's that about, Matt?" I ask myself, wondering if someone snuck into my apartment while I was sleeping and performed a gastric bypass on me. "Oh yeah, you just ate like 7 sticks of butter, 9 egg yolks, and a cup of sugar condensed into a few very small yet very heavy dishes . Yeah, that's what happened."
Feeling extremely well sated from the duck fat fries, scotch olives, monkey bread, bone marrow, raviolo, and quail we shared, we wisely move onto dessert. This is where the story moves from a tale of gluttony to one of tragedy with the potential for adult onset diabetes.
One of the main reasons we came to The Bristol was for the Nutter Butter dessert. How can one improve upon a the perfection that is the Nabisco Nutter Butter you ask? The answer is, you can't... Unless you're Jack Bauer or The Bristol. By what I can only assume was some form of witchcraft, however, we were brought a plate with 3 peanut-butter-filled cookies (I want to say the cookies were hazelnut, but it really isn't material to the story or your dining experience anyway) accompanied by a small glass bowl filled with salted chocolate sabayon.
What happened next is the type of thing you see during Shark Week on Discovery Channel - an animalistic feeding frenzy of epic proportions. As I recall, people from our party were fighting with each other, chocolate went flying all over the place, and someone tried to call my parents to tell them to ground me for eating too much dessert.
Okay, maybe that's not exactly what happened, but we were forced to place a second order for more Nutter Butters. We also snuck in slice of the pear tart, which was pretty good, but nowhere near the same level of radicalness as the Nutter Butters.
Overall, a top notch dining experience. Everything was excellent. The only two things I might not order again were the fries and the pear tart. I never really understood why everyone goes cuckoo for duck fat. As for dessert, you'll just have to see for yourself. It's a religious experience, assuming you belong to the Church Of Dessertianity too.
This review is for their bar area upstairs:
Back in the windy city, and I had to take my friends here to have some drinks and of course... duck fat fries. I truly love duck fat. It has a special place in my heart.
The service was some of the best I've ever had. I forget her name, but our server was incredibly nice, friendly and helpful. Monkey bread was not on the bar menu, but she asked the kitchen if it would be alright if she brought some over to us - and they did! Apparently the menu is different upstairs from the main menu downstairs.
Duck fat fries were still amazing, the monkey bread was completely devoured, and the pickled olives were to die for. And beer, who doesn't like beer?
Came here at 11:30pm specifically for duck fat fries. Can you say over-indulgent fatty? Yes, that… Read more »
Expected pretension. Got perfection. Pardon me for a moment while I kneel at the altar of The Bristol.
Not sure why I expected a stuffy atmosphere replete with formal staff, puffed up pricing and fussy food. That is so very much not the formula here... nope, The Bristol is a straightforward - yet quite stylish - neighborhood restaurant serving up warm, charming service, delightful vino, yummy cocktails and terrifically uncomplicated, yet utterly phenomenal food.
Can you tell I was pleased? You f'n betcha! If I could eat here every night, I would.
I don't imagine ever finding myself tiring of that amazingly toasty, slightly salty and totally comforting monkey bread, nor those indulgent duck fat fries paired with creamy garlic aioli that even gives Sir Hot Doug a run for his money. And those are just the 'bar snacks'!! Start layering on cheese boards, salads, medium dishes, large plates and you'll find nothing disappoints at The Bristol... who's cooking back there? God?
Especially adore the roasted bone marrow/shallot jam dish when I'm looking for something really rich, hearty and gluttonous and the ravioli with brown butter, ricotta and - get this - egg yolk is so surprisingly light, it works perfect as a shared plate or something to treasure velvety bite by bite as your own satiating carb symphony. Ah, be sure to save room for The Bristol's signature homemade Nutter Butter dessert (tis the best on the menu)... chocolate pot de créme, salty shortbread, creamy peanut butter, a sprinkling of fleur de sel... it shall be renamed The Divine Intervention so say me.
I hear they also do a mean brunch (how could they not) and I intend to find out... pass the monkey bread french toast and duck fat fried bacon, yo. Ok, that may be wishful thinking but I bet whatever they're griddlin' up will be five star fabulous, after all, it is cooked by God you know.
My girlfriend and I had wanted to go for Brunch after having a few drinks in the upper lounge, and we finally got a chance to enjoy a Sunday morning there. Definitely one of the newer spaces that has the potential of really taking off...
Service and Space: From the moment we arrived, the staff was friendly and inviting. The seating is a bit snug, but very comfortable. Our waitress was attentive and friendly. She kept the coffee coming, and made a fantastic recommendation for my side biscuit (A chipotle butter...YUM) All in all, the service was fantastic for the setting. 5 stars.
Food: YUM! Who doesn't like Pork Belly? It was amazing. I had the Eggs Benedict, and my girlfriend had the breakfast sandwich. I'm a bit of a Eggs Benedict snob, so I always fear ordering them at a new restaurant. They were so amazing. Probably the best I've had in the city. All the ingredients are fresh, local products, and it shows in the wonderful flavors.
We are looking forward to checking out the dinner fare soon. If it's anything like the breakfast, we'll walk away happy and full. :)
I believe this place may be the next hottest restaurant in town. I can't fault it ...the swordfish is so moist, the chicken was as top notch as Craft..in NYC.
The service was 5 star. the booze endless and creative. they are upscale, artisinal and affordable, get in fast...there will be a LINE.
The decor is rather spartan, but the food and drink more than makes up for it. The menu really pushes the envelope when it comes to eating local and seasonal ingredients. The cocktails are all tasty and made with quality ingredients. Also boasts an extensive beer menu heavy on the European imports.
5-star service. Wait staff were all attentive and knowledgeable. The seating is tight (the table next to me was practically in my lap ... but a few drinks later I didn't care).
Highly recommended: any of the pastas on the menu, the scotch olives (fried olives stuffed with pork sausage), duck fat fries, and bone marrow. One loser: the seared walleye. Kinda fishy, bland and not all that great. One tip: try to get there before 8:00. It can get pretty crowded.
Another great find in Bucktown! Went here on a Wednesday night and it was pretty crowded, but have no complaints about service -- the staff is efficient and accommodating and helpful with the menu.
I wanted to try one of their hand-crafted cocktails, but the menu says "please allow for a few minutes" and I didn't want to allow for anything seeing as I needed some vodka into my system STAT. So, I didn't, but I hear they're great and if they are anything like the food, they should be phenomenal.
I tried and loved the duck fat fries, the apple salad and the chicken. All the food I saw going to the other tables looked incredibly tasty. I will definitely visit Bristol again and probably order at least 2 servings of the duck fat fries. (What exactly are they?)
After a place has been reviewed so many hundreds of times, it's hard to really come up with a saucy new concept for your yelp review.
So I shall not bore ye with details. Let me just say, the staff members here are truly outstanding fellows. (And tis really a fellow's kind of place--don't think I saw one woman working there. The place feels like the world's most elegant cavernous medieval man-cave.)
We sat at the bar on a busy Saturday evening, and while the serving staff cleaned glasses, dropped glasses, swept up shards of glass, bustled, and hustled, they chatted amiably with us.
The duck fat fries were delicious. No lies. With lemon, parmesan and pepper, the fries really enter a new realm of fry-hood; a platonic ideal of fry-hood.
Weirdly for me, I got the quail. QUAIL. I was a vegetarian for 6 years until I got lazy a few months ago, and thought I would enjoy this tender little bird. It had some memorably rich and fruity flavors, but tasted a little underdone, which is maybe how you cook quail; I don't know about these things.
The small burger was a bloody, medium rare treat.
But all the nicely done food woulda mattered naught without our nice server man. He wasn't condescending, and increasingly, my restaurant experiences are determined by how little the server expects I know about food. This guy didn't assume my ignorance. Thanks, man-cave server.
Places like the Bristol makes me want to move to Bucktown. Really.
It was truly a unique and fun dining experience. We really enjoyed everything we ordered: the monkey bread, roasted bone marrow (my fav), raviolo (sooo rich!), and the pig's heart with polenta. Their menu is most certainly adventurous and flavorful. They only offer 3 things for dessert, and we chose the chocolate sabayon with the nutter butters and it was HEAVENLY. The chocolate sabayon was like melted nutella but a hundred times better. We had to try very hard to abstain from licking the shot glass it came in.
No reservations, so not the easiest to get a table right away on weekend nights. But you'll most likely wait less for seating at the communal table. Inherent to the communal set-up, the noise level is pretty high and, therefore, won't serve well as a first date spot.
I went here for Sunday brunch and seriously had one of the most delicious brunches in a long time. It's a pretty small place so you'll often find yourself waiting to be seated but it's located on a busy street with a lot of boutiques so you're always welcome to leave you name and number and they'll call you while you're exploring the area. Pork has been done justice at The Bristol. Pork belly is one of my favorite cuts of pork and they do not skimp on the belly! Fried egg sandwich is delicious and if you can, ask for the grain mustard hollandaise sauce. I had the chilaquiles which were pretty good considering I wasn't at a mexican eatery. You'll want to order extra salsa rojo though...
Fennel turkey sausages were very juicy and its casing gave it a really pleasant snap. The service is good and the ambiance is very easy. The chef is really into seasonal and local ingredients to the menu is always changing.
ROASTED BONE MARROW.
What other restaurant in Chicago can you order that menu item???
So I tried The Bristol last night with a friend who had been there before. She loved it and her recommendation didn't disappoint.
Let me set the scene: dimly lit, large wooden communal tables, small bar, modern trappings, very responsive host right away as we walked in...there was a 45 minute wait for a table so we opted to sit at the bar so we could hear each other speak.
My friend chose the Cue-Cai cocktail, made with fresh cucumbers, and Grey Goose Poire. I didn't drink, but she said it was refreshing and fantastic.
We started with the monkey bread. It comes in a small crock, golden brown and sprinkled with sea salt. Has a pretzel-like quality, but a lighter texture. It comes with a dill-butter sauce for dipping. That sauce, man...mmmm. I wanted to drink it! Not overly herb-ey and not greasy. Delicious.
We then split the market greens salad with buttermilk-tarragon dressing. There was a bit of butter lettuce and mixed greens with thinly sliced radishes, shallots, mint and tarragon. The dressing was light and the flavor of tarragon was perfect. Not too overpowering of a licorice flavor. It was a nice, light break in the meal.
After that we again split the pan roasted halibut, which was perfectly cooked. It came in a light lemon cream white wine sauce, with baby grape tomatoes and yellow squash. The squash was so fresh you could snap into it.
Onto the star of the meal: the roasted bone marrow. Now, I have never had it before, but have seen it eaten and let me tell you, it does not look appetizing at all. It is just this gelatinous, greasy mass inside a huge hoof.
Served with crispy toast, parsley and shallot jam, it's hardly a meal, am I wrong?
Yes, I was totally wrong.
I was full after eating the dish and I didn't even eat the full portion. I dont know what I was expecting, but this was amazing in it's soft, salty, fatty, perfectly greasy deliciousness.
Imagine cutting yourself a piece of the most perfectly cooked steak you have ever eaten (we all have one, mine is from Manny's in Minneapolis)...now imagine you took that flavor and combined it with just the right amount of marbley fat and let it melt in your mouth.
That meltiness...that's bone marrow.
Spread over thick, crusty toast combined with the vinegar of the shallot jam and there were literally fireworks exploding over my head as I chewed.
It's too much for one sitting though, too rich. I would only eat something like this a few times a year, but it's worth it to get past those precarious food notions you have and just TRY IT.
To finish up a great meal we split the chocolate sabayon with homemade nutter butter cookies. Decadent. You gotta dip 'em.
And we managed to eat that much and that elegantly, plus another glass of wine all for $75-$80!
The Bristol is doing it.
Go do it, too!
UPDATE: Wow, after re-reading this I realize I sound like a total caveman with a huge monster leg of meat and that is A-OK with me.
I'd rate it higher if I actually hadn't left before ordering.
Long story short, we were so excited to go there last week to celebrate a great week...and ended up leaving to go to Avec, and SO glad we did.
Sat down, and the appetizers looked good, but the entrees were all over the place. I found the menu to be quite unfocused. The server came by and told us he'd like us to order all at once because they "tend to run out of things." What? Anyway...he then told us he was running short on the hangar steak and if we wanted one we had to tell him right away so he could reserve it for us. We said, "yes, please save us one and we'll look over the wine list, we were thinking a big California Cab."
He comes back and told us "well, while we were talking we must've sold out, so we don't have it anymore." That was the only red meat dish on the menu. Doesn't this place pride itself on local, nose-to-tail cooking? I was STARVING, so we attempted to order some monkey bread and fried brussel sprouts while we decided and again, the server refused to let us do that, because "they like to take the whole order at once and send it out as it's ready."
again, WHAT?
So we weren't allowed to order any food until we had decided on everything. Mind you it's Sunday evening at 7:15pm.
I was so perturbed, we both looked at each other and said, "let's go to Avec."
On our way out, I asked for our coats and the host asked if anything was wrong and if it was "something he said." I said, "well no, it's just that I'm starving, and I'm no impressed with your entree selection and just wanted to order some apps while we looked over the wines and decided on our entree."
Again, even the host, who AT THIS POINT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REMEDY THE SITUATION AND GET US TO SIT BACK DOWN AND ORDER FROM THEM AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT, said that "yes, we do like our guests to order all at once for the kitchen's sake."
Whatever. That was total bunk and the WORST customer service I have yet to receive in a restaurant to date. I'm so glad we went to Avec, the food is amazing, the service is terrific, and it's always a welcome environment where the guest can have a terrific dining experience.
Sorry Bristol, but you had the chance to fix that dining experience, and now I...and anyone I meet will learn about the many reasons NOT to dine there.
Get it together.
There was a bit of a wait when we got here, but we had a great old time sitting up at the bar waiting. After all, the drinks and the appetizers are the stars here.
I guess the duck fat fries have a pretty big rep, and it was well-earned. They were really quite great. The beer cheese was also good.
Once we moved downstairs to our table, I sucked the marrow out of life or at least a few bones...Then I spread it on some bread. Why isn't that part of the cliche?
Anwho, it was good, but too rich for my blood..har har. It also wasn't worth the horrified reaction of one of my friends when she'd heard that was how I spent my time in Chicago. Oh well.
Had the burger as well. Wow, I ate a lot here! It was a solid "gourmet" hamburger, but mine are better at home.
All in all, a great time at the Bristol despite the wait.
Run! Don't walk...better yet, steal your neighbor's Ferrari and get there quick!
Absolutely delicious. Duck Fat Fries?!?!?! What more could you ask for (maybe MK's truffle cream to dip the fries in--then I could die happy)?
Food is superb here. Their brunch is awesome as well. I recommend the Fried Egg Sandwich. The sandwich has a generous portion of pork belly--mmmm mmmm mmm. The Eggs Benedict is yummy and the hollandaise sauce that accompanies it is even better. I would also recommend their DUCK SAUSAGE skillet. Need I say more?
You won't be disappointed here. The price is just right. The food is on point. I crave it every Sunday morning and when I get there wish that I had waited for dinner. Maybe next time I'll just go for brunch, hide in the bathroom, and reappear for dinner service (just a thought).
Ah. Maze. ING.
The Bristol was recommended to us by our neighbor, Dana D. She has excellent taste so I took her advice to heart.
Last night Scuba Steve and I were looking for a place to get a Friday night dinner. We were pretty uninspired, but sushi sounded good at that moment, so we headed over to Coast. The wait was over an hour, so we though maybe we would pop down the street to either Duchamp or The Bristol to see if we could get in there sooner. For some reason we decided to try The Bristol first, and we were sooooooo glad we did!
We chose to sit at the bar, however we were told for appetizers and drinks you can go upstairs, but all seating downstairs served the full menu, which is what we wanted.
The staff there is incredibly friendly, informative, and even put up with my million questions. Their drink menu is very inventive, so I decided to give the Moscow Mule a whirl, and it has now become one of my new fave drinks...top 3 fave drinks of all time, to be exact. YES, it is THAT GOOD! I was intrigued by the Ginger Beer that they put in it, so I asked for a sample and they gave me half a bottle to try!
They were very helpful in guiding us through the menu as well...there are items on the menu that are mainstays, and there are items that rotate, so we decided to do one mainstay app and two of the rotations, and for our entrees we picked rotations.
We chose the apple salad, which came out first - it was perfect. Light and sweet, with some arugula to spice things up a bit.
Next, we were served the braised rabbit legs. A quick note: carnivores will LOVE this place. The legs were perfectly done, meat falling off the bone as it should, and flavored in such a way that you could taste the game without it tasting gamey.
Last for the apps, and some of you may want to hold your stomachs, we had the bone marrow. It's served right in the bone, with a shallot jelly and toast to accompany it. It's gelatinous, and DELICIOUS. I wasn't sure if Scuba Steve would be game to try it, but he was, and he was thrilled with the selection! We joked about various family members being either grossed-out by it or intrigued by it...I would get it again and again!
Our entrees consisted of roasted goat and chicken with spaetzle. Dana D has been telling me to "go to The Bristol and get the chicken!!!!!!" for a month or so, so of course, I HAD to get the chicken! :) The goat selection was us being adventurous, and we were rewarded for our selection! Goat was served somewhat rare, and the chicken was juicy perfection. I'm salivating right now just thinking about it!!!!
Their desserts looked amazing as well, but we were so full we just couldn't have another bit of anything, so next time we'll do 2 apps so we can get dessert!
It was also really cool to sit at the bar, not only because of the close proximity to the bar tenders and therefore proximity to drinks, but also just to watch them in action. They really are master mixologists, not like you see at some bars with all the flare and craziness...but in the sense that they are craftsmen, carefully crafting the perfect beverage. The Moscow Mule is also served in a really cool copper mug.
Can't wait to go back and sample more of their fantastic carnivore-friendly culinary creations (say THAT 10 times fast!).
Totally utterly tasty! Go now. Don't even finish reading my review before you head over there.
They don't take reservations. But we decided to try our luck tonight. We had great success and snagged two seats at the bar. I love sitting at the bar. Maybe that makes me weird. I'm not really comfortable at communal tables yet lately they seem to be all the rage - Grocery Bistro, Urbanbelly, Publican and now Bristol.
Every dish was tasty! I can't believe it but it was all tasty. We had the scotch olives stuffed with pork sausage. What could be wrong with that? Love it. Next we had joey's soppresata! Super yummy, homemade, not fatty, and very very meaty! The spice was perfect - a little tingle on the tongue but not overpowering. The ricata salata and roasted peaches accentuated the soppresata. Next was the bone marrow. TO DIE FOR...literally. Love it and they cut the bone marrow lengthwise for you so you can get every last morsel of its goodness. It comes with a shallot jam and pickeled beans/parsley. Both were great additions to the salty, creamy texture of the bone marrow.
We also ordered the raviolo - be prepared that egg yolk gently oozes out of this ENORMOUS ravioli. It's heaven!! Brown butter, egg yolk, ricotta and some herb....so tasty! I died and went to heaven tonight.
Lastly we ended with chocolate sabayon with HOMEMADE nutter butters. The nutter butters were absolutely decadent and when dipped into the sabayon....AHHHHHHH I see the light and I'm walking towards it. Seriously, it's on out-of-body experience.
Steve was our mixologist and I had the Koi Pond and the White Peach. Both were stiff and tasty! Amazing! Great job Steve!
There are two negatives to this place - first they ran out of their snails by the time we got there - BOO. The second is that my husband thinks that there is not a big enough selection for dinner. But I tried to tell him that it's gastropub fare not your standard steak and potatoes fare.
Love it here. Will return. Absolutely tasty.
Yay! You Co-Yelpers were right again! We didn't have reservations but our party of 4 were seated within 10 minutes as the host pledged. The tables are gorgeous, rustic wood and our server was attentive. Since there are so many reviews I'll do a quick Report Card (in no particular order)
Monkey Bread (A-), apple salad (A+), duck fat fries (A), spiced olives (B-), Beer Cheese spread (B+), shrimp tagliarini (B-), Cauliflower Ravioli with capers (A), homemade nutter butters (A+)
It is a little loud but I wonder what the party room would be like. Somebody I know is turning 30 this year...hmmm
Another boring small plates concept restaurant. Been there, done that, had better. And the doormen with ear piecies were a little pretentious for the family style neighborhood eatery this place wants to be.
As for the food, eh, it was fine, but nothing special. The flat bread had good toppings but it was dragged down by the burned tortilla shell-like crust. It was more like pizza on a chip, but bland.
The salads were a cute attempt to be creative but both missed by being too over the top so they came out a little flat.
The ravioli "entree" is about the size of your hand, and bland and boring at that. Don't bother.
The goat was very good, but the potato cake underneath again, came up bland, and the corn salsa was the only thing left to compliment the meat, but of course they skimpped on that so I may have gotten a few bites before it was gone.
The chicken entree was a winner. Moist and delicious. Finally, they got something right. Too bad it was something as simple as chicken.
Dessert: Go for the Nutter Butters. They're homemade. Melt in your mouth. Delicious.
I would give this restaurant a 3.5. This place was "the place to be" since it is new and hip. Tried to go here one other time and the wait was over 1 hour! Luckily this time went a little bit earlier and maybe now it is not so popular, so got in right away! One thing is this place is tiny so make sure to go there early or at an odd time. I don't like the seating but we were lucky to get our own table. The food was delicious!!!
What a BAD Experience!
I would consider myself a foodie with a large appetite. No reservations accepted, 90 minute wait for a table for 2 and a quick re-direction to a LOUD bar area upstairs. We were presented with a bar menu so we ordered a few snacks to avoid filling up before dinner. We ordered the scoth olives and duck fat fries. The scotch olives tasted like they came from a jar of pimento olives and were very soft. The duck fat fries were over seasoned with LEMON ZEST? I much prefer Hot Doug's which is a hot dog stand.
After waiting nearly 60-70 minutes, after 9pm we decided to leave. Headed down the street to Duchamp and had a GREAT meal. Their executive chef, Michael was very friendly and sure can cook.
The Bristol has been checked off my list of favs.
A lovely Sunday brunch at the Bristol was exactly what the doctor ordered for my fabulous co-workers and myself.
They took excellent care of us from the quick coffee service to the treats sent out by the kitchen before and during our meal (cashew waffles, how YOU doin?). My litmus test, eggs Benedict, held true. Delicious. The mustard hollandaise added the perfect amount of acidic zing and those potatoes... wow. Excellent. Crispy, perfectly seasoned (if not ever so slightly undercooked, but just a wee bit).
The cucumber cocktail is light and refreshing, the Bloody Mary Breakfast is full of yummy meats and particularly good cheese. Service was minimal and non-invasive, and we felt very well taken care of. The space is beautiful, the tables in particular, the loo is lovely and the open front meant that a nice breeze blew through every now and again.
I'm looking forward to returning to Bristol to sample their dinner wares because if brunch is any indication, I'll be suitably impressed.
This review covers two visits to The Bristol, you've been warned.
Neither time that I've been here, have I actually sat at a table and had a proper meal. Once upstairs at the bar, once downstairs at the bar. Both times, brilliant. Let me say that again. BRILLIANT.
The cocktails are fab-tastic, the bartenders witty and engaging - the first time I went, my date and I spoke to the bartenders almost as much as each other. We ate radishes, then cheeses and finished with desert - all the while working our way through the cocktail board to our right as if it were a 'to-do' list.
The second time, with a business associate it was cocktails, then escargot followed by a lovely whitefish with a tomato sauce and finally, deserts.
The flavor combinations that come out of the bar and the kitchen are amazing....its a must if you're a foodie in Chicago.
i loved this place. I MEAN LOVED IT. I F'IN LOVED IT!
I walked in the door and I was a little turned off by the communal seating, it made me feel anxious at first. Then, I stepped up to the bar and the nice man with weird, hand tattoos made me feel super at ease. He rolled with my humor, which isn't easy because I come off as condescending and rude but I am just kidding. He totally picked up on my dry, angry humor and gave it RIGHT back to me without missing a beat. Gotta love it.
We only had to wait a minute or so and then we were seated. We shared the Market Salad with buttermild dressing - mixed greens, tarragon, fennel, radishes and mint leaves. I love mint leaves in a salad. Though I didn't want the Monkey Bread, I am SO HAPPY I ate this bread - it was like winning the carb lottery.
I ordered the Raviolo, even though I had no idea what this was, and...it was SO F'IN GOOD I WANTED TO STAND UP AND SHOUT FROM THE MOUNTAIN TOPS. Honestly, I would've ordered a second entree if they hadn't sold out of this dish. I wouldn't even let my date try it because I did not want to relinquish a single fork-ful. It was one giant ravioli with a poached egg on the inside (perfectly cooked) on a bed or ricotta cheese and brown butter.
My date had the roast chicken with mustard and crunchy salad, shredded salary and radishes in a chicken broth. The chicken had crispy skin.
We finished with a strawberry pannacota....That could make a grown man cry.
Very reasonably priced and so good. I will be back and back and back.
I really enjoyed this place.
When you walk in you are enclosed in a glass box. You get to talk to the host in a quiet environment! You don't have to yell your name six times before they realize you're saying "Katie". I was waiting for a friend to show so I was directed to go upstairs and wait at the bar, if I was so inclined.
The bar is small but stocked. I tried a new beer that came from the oldest brewery in the world. The bartenders are fun to watch make cocktails. The lady next to me had a glass with a thin slice of pear in it. It looked so good. The staff was very helpful and the service was great!
For dinner we started with the duck fat fries and monkey bread. I have never had either (embarrassing). The fries were great and the aioli was delicious. The monkey bread was so cute and comforting. We also tried the apple pear salad and it was so fresh and the dressing was drinkable. We had one of the pastas for our main dish. It was rich and perfect for a cold night. Now for dessert... I'm sure you've heard this a million times... Nutter Butters. These nutters are homemade and served with a chocolate pudding for dipping. mmmmm.
The restaurant itself is aesthetically pleasing. There is a lot of wood and everything looks so clean. There is a chalk board on the wall that lets you know where everything came from. It's basically a list of local farms and drawings of which animal/produce came from that farm. I will definitely be back!
Summary: It wasn't bad, but I doubt I'll be back.
The details:
There were some major hits and misses here and overall, I just don't think it was worth the price. It wasn't really expensive (about $60 for dinner for 2, not incl. drinks), but I could get much better food for the price elswhere.
The monkey bread was delish (it's warm bread with butter and sea salt - it would take some real talent to screw it up). The ravioli (one big ravioli for $12) was amazing and gone in a second.
The duck fat fries, beer cheese spread with crackers and the flatbread were all . . fine, And not very memorable.
The marrow (albeit, my first) was flavorless and the porcetto was downright crap. It had no taste other than salt, and for 4 super thin slices they had the nerve to charge somthing like $10. Are you kidding me? When we told the server we didn't like it, her response: oh.
One person at out table also had the world's smallest $10 burger.
I love this fucking place.
DUCK FAT FRIES. OMFG they are good. They kick Hot Doug's wimpy fries ass.
Couldn't make up mind ordering, love gigantic blackboard. Our lovely waitress let us try cattail since we couldn't make up our minds.
I got goat crappciao. It was dynomite. The salad with it, was it wheat berries and almonds I think? Well the texture of it was amazing. With the goat ...YUM! My friend got the apple salad which was just as good! Apple salad that's good? YUP!
My friend got the pork belly sammie, and I stared at with envy. I got Pasta Carbonara with ramps. It was overly salted and peppered, other than that is was ok. Sorry, my Pasta Carbonara can kick it's ass.
But everything else was steller. I would go back in a flash. Like now, seriously.
Neighborhood: Bucktown
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Avondale
Category: Lounges
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
Category: Wine Bars
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Category: Pubs
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